Metal telegraph, trolley, and like pole.



J. F. CRAVEN.

METAL TELEGRAPH, TROLLEY, AND LIKE POLE.

APPLIUATION'FILED JAN.15, 1909.

Patented Feb. 1,1910.

FIGJ 2 W m v y o! E g A "(-2 N. N N u.- INVENTOR NITED srnrns PATENT onrien.

JAMES F. CRAVEN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

METAL TELEGRAPH, TROIILEY, AND LIKE POLE.

Specification of Letters lfatent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

Application filed January 15, 1909. Serial No. 472,460.

' poles such as used for telegraph, telephone,

electric light and trolley wires and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a pole for these purposes which is much lighter, cheaper to construct and cheaperto transport and erect than metallic poles herei tofore used for similar purposes.

Telegraph, electric light and trolley poleshave heretofore been constructed either of wood or of metal tubes. The tubular poles, however, are of considerable weight per lineal foot so that the tonnage for a given number of poles of a iven size is neces-' sarily quite large, so ad ing not only to the cost of manufacture but also to the cost of.

transporting, handling and erecting the same.

The present invention is designed to provide a metallic pole for the purposes specified having all of the strength and enduring qualities of the tubular poles heretofore used and one which is not only much cheaper as to first cost but also can be much more cheaply transported, handled and erected.

The invention comprises, generally stated, a pole of skeleton constructlon having vertical members or uprights of flanged metallic bars united by flat lattice members as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is an elevation of a telegraph or telephone pole embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section through the same; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a slight modification; Fig. 4: is a detail view of a metal strip or bar preparatory to bending the same to form a lattice member; Fig. 5 shows the same after being bent in one direction to form the lattice member; Fig. 6 shows the same bent in the other directlon to form a lattice member; Fig. 7 is a side view of a portion of a pole of uniform cross section; Fig. 8 is a detail view showin a modified base for the ole; Fig. 9 is a si e elevation particularly a apted for trolley poles; Fig. 10 is atop plan view of a. similar pole; Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 are cross sections of several forms of the pole shown in Fig. 9; and Fig. 15 is an en larged sectional detail view 'of the joint between a vertical member and a lattice member.

The pole of the present invention is of skeleton construction. When designed as a telegraph or similar pole it is preferably of rectangular-or square cross section with four vertical corner members 2, shown as angle bars, and united by the diagonal lattice members 3. These lattice members may be secured either to the inner faces of the legs of the corner angles, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or to the outer faces thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. V The lattice members are secured to the vertical members by welding, the adjacent ends of two lattice members being secured to a vertical in substantially the same horizontal plane, as shown at 5 in Fig. 15. i

This can be readily accomplished by means of an electric current, such as by forming slight protruberances on the lattice members to give a point or points of contact at which the weld is made. The welding can be accomplished very quickly and conveniently, so that the labor cost is much less than if riveted joints were employed, as it obviates punchingholes in both the vertical and lattice members, saves the cost of the rivets, and reduces the time required for assembling since the time required for making a weld is less than that required for driving a rivet.

To facilitate handling the lattice members they are formed in lengths comprising a plurality of individual lattice members and preferably of such length as to extend from top to bottom, or at least for material portions of the height of the pole. This is accomplished by forming the lattice memhers from a long strip, band or thin bar of metal 7 shown in Fig. 4, cutting notches 8 alternately in opposite edgesthereof, and then bending the strip edgewise at said notches and alternately in opposite directions ,into zigzag form to form a continuous lattice. member such as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Ifbent in one direction the lattlce memher will take the form shown in Fig. 5, While if bent in the opposite direction it will take the form shown in Fig. 6. In this manner the lattice members can be quickly and cheaply formed and in long lengths so as to facilitate handling when assembling with the vertical members.

The base of the pole may be conveniently anchored in a body of concrete 11 as shown in, Figs. 1 and 9, or the lower ends of the vertical ,members may be formed into feet 12 and bolted 0r riveted to a base plate 13 as shown in Fig. 8. Preferably the pole will be tapered toward the top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, but if desired it may be of uniform cross section, or with parallel sides as shown in Fig. 7. When used as a telegraph pole cross-arms 15 can be conveniently secured to the same, such as by bolting to one of the flat faces of the pole, and such flat faces also provide a convenient construction for securing the lower ends of the braces 16, by merely bolting through one of the fiangesor legs of the vertical members. For trolley wire and similar poles a circular or skeleton tubular construction is preferred. This is shown in Figs. 9 to 14;. In this case the pole is constructed of six vertical members 17 converging toward the top to form a taper pole and united by a spiral band 18 which is welded to the verticals at each crossing point, thus giving alattice effect. The welds in this case also are preferably formed electrically, although if desired they may be formed many other known Way. With this construction the spiral band may either be applied on the outer faces of'the vertical members as shown in Figs. 9 and 12 or to the inner faces thereof as indicated in Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14. The vertical members may be either bars of rectangular cross section as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, but preferably are flanged bars, such as small T-bars as indicated in Fig. 13, or small channel bars as shown in Fig. 14.

A poleconstruct'ed as above described hasall of the strength and advantages of a tubular pole and at the same time is very much lighter, and for some'sizes and purposes is capable of being made of about one-fifth the weight per linear foot of tubular poles. Furthermore, the design can be readily varied to meet various conditions, and the rectangular or square design also facilitates the attachment of cross-arms thereto. By welding the lattice members to the vertical members, and particularly by using lattice members of the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the handling is greatly facilitated and the labor cost of construction is very small so that the first cost is much less than that of tubular poles not only on account of labor cost but also on the basis of tonnage. The poles are also much cheaper to transport, handle and erect than tubular poles on account of their lesser weight. By having the lattice 'members welded to the verticals rather than riveted, the punching of holes and cost of rivets are saved and at the same time a much firmer construction provided and one in which the joints are not loosened by constant vibrations as in the case of riveted joints,

and not so liable to deteriorate on account -ers or of steps or of rusting. The finished pole is practically an integral one but of hollow skeleton construction instead of solid tubular construction. The lattice construction permits the pole to be climbed without the use of climbrojections secured to the pole. It can therefore be climbed by anyone without the use of special appliances and with greater safety than poles of wooden or tubular metal construction.

What I claim is:

1. A metal pole comprising vertical flanged bars and flat lattice members welded to the flat faces of said vertical bars, thereby forming a substantially integral structure.

.2. A metal pole comprising vertical flanged bars and lattice members consisting of continuous flat strips extending diagonally and welded to the flat faces of said vertical bars, thereby forming a substantially integral structure.

3. A metal pole comprising vertical flanged bars and a lattice member consisting of a fiat strip of zigzag form and welded at its angles to fiat faces of said vertical bars, thereby forming a substantially integral structure.

4. A metal pole comprising vertical flanged bars and lattice members consisting of flat strips notched alternately on opposite edges and bent edgewise alternately in opposite directions and welded at their angles to flat faces of the vertical bars, thereby forming a substantially integral structure.

5. A metal pole comprising vertical flanged bars and flat lattice members extending diagonally and welded to flat faces of said vertical bars, thereby forming a substantially integral structure, adjacent lattice members being welded to a vertical bar in substantially the same horizontal plane.

6. A metal pole of rectangular hollow cross-section, comprising vertical flanged bars forming the angles of said pole, and lattice members forming the side faces of said pole and comprising flat strips of zigzag shape welded flatwise at their angles to flat faces of the corner vertical flanged bars, thereby forming a substantially integral structure.

7. A metal pole comprising vertical flanged bars and flat lattice members extending diagonally and welded to said vertical bars, thereby forming a substantially integral structure, and cross arms and braces secured toflat faces of said bars.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES F. CRAVEN.

Witnesses:

HARRY DIAMOND, F. W. WINTER. 

